Malky79

Was unlikely to keep that scintillating goalscoring run going for to long. Certainly from what I seen he looked decent. Clearly not quite as quick as he once was but goals or not thought he looked better at linking play than Sutton. If he is there for squad depth I think he is a very good signing, as a first pick I have small reservations. At times he left I thought he was a great player for us, provided goals, assist and a great work rate. If he can be anything like that with added experience great news for us. Hoping we can add a younger up and coming prospect to provide that sell on factor.

Ainsworth is a player that can make games worth watching. Was more than a bit disappointed with him first half of last season but certainly love to keep him provided he keeps putting a shift in. Laying confirmed yet, not a bad signing if so. Rough around edges but definitely signs of potential.

I certainly hoped we'd have a couple of confirmed signings by return for pre season, we're at one with a few days yet to go so no major panic stations yet. First pre season game on the 7th of July is next marker for me, I'd hope we wouldn't have gaping holes to be filled as we look to start playing a few games so hoping for resolution with Ainsworth, hopefully know if Laing and Long are back or not and one striker as absolute minimum. A quiet unease giving way to ever increasing anxiety as friendlies start to slip by if we don't at least have a decent looking first XI in place.

Nah he had visibily ran out of steam. Maybe the cash restrictions last summer meant he had hands tied somewhat but it looked like a lazy effort and regardless of lack of ability to enhance the squad he should still have gotten more out of what he had to work with. Will remain one of my all time favourite Well managers but his time has been and gone.

I'll admit this mind sound overly paranoid, but bit of a fuck you for keeping the other arse cheek of the OF down?

Not to fussed as to when deals are concluded or announced barring a strong preference to have a decent first XI and a few subs on board for the start of pre season to try and hit the ground running. If we can then add to that with some later deals as season start and the deadline approaches all to the good. Certainly want us to be well set to get off to a good start, a bit of early confidence can do wonders for a season.

Despite being a handsome big bastard he was rarely pretty to watch but he scored goals, and some important and memorable ones so all the best to big Johhny Handsome hope he does alright just not against us obviously.

I'd never argue that the difference in money swishing around English leagues isn't both slightly galling and obscene but whatever case can be made for compensation that is a player producing the goods in the Championship and Premier League, both generally considered a step up from the SPL. Lee Erwin has barely established himself in the worst Motherwell team most of us here have ever had to weatch, if the compensation is £500k it seems generous. Which is why I suspect most people are taking him leaving in their stride, if that had been a player who'd made a McFadden type impact we'd be spewing.

Pretty sure we sold Clarkson for a decent fee, bit of a one off but still.

Not overly fussed if we release new strips every season, no one has to buy them.

The first 90 was tense from start to finish, the second game the tension eased after the first goal and evaporated with the second.

Think it was a case of a move turning sour with lack of games and lack of a decent crack of the whip.

It's not been a smooth ride but there have been signs of progress. Might have done it the hard way with many let downs on the way but came through a massive challenge with the play off and now with whole backroom team in place the chance to really put his mark on the team. The SPL outside of Celtic is generally a matter of small small margins so without wishing to set targets we clearly want to be no where near the relegation battle, be more than happy to settle for being in the mix for top 6 and a decent run in at least one of the cups but you never know if we can go from second to second bottom who is to say we couldn't bounce back just as high? That being said I expect Aberdeen to likely be best of the rest again but after them there is little between most of the rest, a few early wins and we could be flying(and vice versa of course).

Yes but Erwin is 21 a bit raw and with his best years ahead of him if he keeps developing, by no means had a stellar season but certainly an ecouraging one. Best situation would be keeping both as McDonald still has plenty to offer and with a bundle of experience I think you can already see he's made a difference to Erwin. Erwin is a player that could be sold for substantial money where as no chance of that with McDonald and we need to bring through players that can provide a return.

McDonald is the kind of experienced player that we need to complement some younger players like Erwin if they both stay, would be delighted if he signed a 2 year deal. Would happily take Laing if he was available, one of the worst debuts I have ever witnessed but has came on and been pretty steady since then. One that might make us money later on if we could tie him to a decent length deal. Likewise more than happy to keep Ainsworth, can blow hot or cold but be hard to replace if he moves on. Hopefully see more game time for guys like Watt and Thomas next season as well.

My rational head says we are massive favourites to win this tie. Sure we have had some utter howling shows this season, but confidence has to be there after Thursday and focus and concentration should in no way be an issue. The same commitment and calm heads and we should score and that will hopefully be enough. Rangers were far from terrible on Thursday but they have weaknesses that can be exploited and should only be more exploitable if they are chasing this tie. That being said I'm still massively bricking it as it will be the worst moment in my Well supporting life if we somehow blow this lead. If it is indeed the same team Marvin and Lionel need to show the same commitment and drive and we should get at least one goal out of this. Please just let us get one early and make it the best party ever!

Yeah basically if worst happens I have a dream that Faddy will come in and if not exactly ride to the rescue play an important role in our return to the top flight. It would be a fitting way for him to sign off than the underwhelming way he finished end of last season. I do have serious doubts he has it in him, but it would be nice. Ideally this whole idea is moot by Sunday and I definitely don't think he has it at SPL level now.

Probably not, doesn't seem to have it anymore. If we end up in first division a case for him as an experienced player around some younger heads if he willing to play for pretty much buttons and love of the game?

If we can avoid shooting ourselves in the foot early on I think we can win on the night and over two legs. My confidence that we won't do this though is not especially high. I can picture us losing an early goal and Rangers doing similar as what they did against HIbs frustrating them and picking us off as we push for a goal leaving us a mountain to climb for the second leg. Might slightly prefer Ramsden for Law at Ibrox to in theory be more secure at back but Ramsden does sometimes have lose the plot moments and we don't need to be down to ten men at any point. I expect to see team much like below McDonald maye playing a little deeper. Long Law Laing McManus Hammell Grant Lasley Pearson Johnson McDonald Erwin

They are I am afraid much of a muchness. I'd probably give Twardzik the edge but neither inspires confidence. I do agree though that Twardzik was a POTY candidate before he was dropped, a few big mistakes certainly but saved us from many a real hiding. Far from the weakest link but I can see why Barraclough looked elsewhere just that Long hasn't done any better, arguably a little worse.

POTY is an award that should be buried for this season. Josh Law has reached the giddy heights on not being terrible bordering on acceptable. Which is fantastic as frankly he looked like a passenger for pretty much entirety of the first half of the season so delighted to see him improve but POTY is pushing it. Absolutely not one player in the squad right now could accept that award without feeling more than a bit embarrassed.

I can see us winning this one, I can even see Killie losing or at least failing to beat either County or Thistle. I still expect us to fuck up in at least one of our remaining 3 fixtures though and with Killies GD advantage that leaves us still most likely fucked.

I like Sutton and Erwin and feel they both have qualities. Erwin is a bit more like Higdon in that he prefers to get the walk into chest and control it and move it on, doesn't strike me being the greatest at winning headers. Who should be in the team right now is another matter, Sutton has looked better coming off the bench and certainly more conifdent he'll put away and be in position to get chances. I'd certainly be tempted to drop Erwin for Sutton in coming games but being honest I no more confident that it'll do us any better than Erwin/McDonald combination.

Only thing I'd really have preferred is a home game first to make getting back on the winning trail just that bit easier. That said despite our shite record at NDP their form isn't improving much we need to show some backbone and go and win that game. Do that and we can start to think about avoiding play offs. 4 wins might do it and if County out of no where can win 8 out of 9 why can't we do 4 out of 5. County and Thistle will be tough but they in the bottom 6 for a reason, other 3 are no great shakes either. Show out best form for a few games and it possible. My biggest fear(aside from losing to Accies right off the bat and killing hopes stone dead) is that Killie, County and Thistle will all win 3 from 5 which even if they all lose to us would be enough to stay ahead I think.

Everyone else is almost safe. Killie I think could just slip into trouble, weakest form out of themselves, County and Thistle. We lose our next game and others win and well pretty much all over even for the most die hard of optimists. That said it not unfeasible we get a win over Killie one week and they lose to form team County the next pending how the fixtures pan out. Provided we play a bit more like games pre Thistle every post split fixture is winnable and I reckon 4 wins will likely be needed minimum barring an utter arse collapse from someone else. St.Mirren do look like free points for everyone but surely they scrape a draw or two somewhere. Fingers crossed it against someone like County or Killie as unlikely as it seems. Thistle and County will with luck both say pump Killie, or one of the, lose to Killie, the other one and ourselves. Quite a lot things outwith our control in this febrile imagining but will keep hoping for it for as long as the delusion can be maintained. Stranger things have happened and all that.